EU and Chinese flags are seen at the Europa building in Brussels.
Brussels, Belgium: As the summer break approaches, the European Union and China are set to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations with a high-level summit in Beijing this Thursday. However, what was initially planned as a two-day meeting has been scaled back to a single day, reflecting the current strains in the relationship.
The summit comes at a challenging time for EU-China ties, overshadowed by ongoing trade disputes, particularly around market access and rare earth elements critical for technology sectors. Geopolitical tensions, especially Russia’s war in Ukraine, have further complicated the partnership.
Experts like Gunnar Wiegand, former managing director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service, describe the relationship as multifaceted. “The EU sees China as a partner for addressing global challenges, an economic competitor in tech development, and a systemic rival due to its governance model and global influence,” Wiegand noted. He also highlighted growing concerns about China as a potential security threat amid the Ukraine conflict.
Who’s Attending?
Representing the EU, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will lead the delegation to Beijing. The two are expected to engage in frank and constructive talks with Chinese leaders.
On the Chinese side, President Xi Jinping will host the EU delegation Thursday morning, with Premier Li Qiang co-chairing the 25th EU-China summit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has expressed confidence in the resilience of bilateral ties despite recent challenges.
Antonio Costa emphasized the importance of the summit, stating, “This is an opportunity to engage with China at the highest level and have frank, constructive discussions on issues that matter to both of us. We want dialogue, real engagement, and concrete progress.”
